Human Anatomy Vol 1

CUTANEOUS NEBVES. SUPERFICIAL VE

Supraclavicular

Upper lateral cutaneous nerve of arm

Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm

Medial cutaneous nerve of arm

Lower lateral cutaneous nerve of arm

Medial cutaneous nerve of

Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm

Lateral cutaneous nerve offorearm

Ulnar nerve

Radial nerve

Median

Fig.7.1: The cutaneous nerves

1L

b. Palmar digital branches (C6-C8) are five in

number and arise in the palm. The medial two

branches are common palmar digital nerves;

each divides near a digital cleft to form two

proper palffiar digital nerues. The lateral three

branches are proper palmar digital nerves for

the medial and lateral sides of the thumb and

for the lateral side of the index finger. The

various digital branches of the median nerve

supply palmar skin of the lateral three and a

half digits, the nail beds, and skin on the

dorsal aspect of the distal phalanges of the

same digits.

The ulnar nerae gives off three sets of cutaneous

nerves in hand.

a. The palmar cutaneous branch (C7, C8) arises in

the middle of the forearm and descends,

crossing superficial to flexor retinaculum and

supplies skin of the medial one-third of the

palm.

b. The palmnr digital branches of the ulnar nerae

(C7, CB) are two in number. They arise from

the superficial terminal branch of the ulnar

nerve just distal to the pisiform bone. The

medial of the two branches is a proper palmar

digital nerve for the medial side of the little

finger. The lateral branch is a comnon palmar

digital nerve which divides into two proper

digital nerves for supply of adjacent sides of

the ring and little fingers.

c. The dorsal branch of the ulnar nerae

(C7, CB) arises about 5 cm above the wrist. It

descends with the main trunk of the ulnar

nerve almost to the pisiform bone. Here it

passes backwards to divide into three (some-

times two) dorsal digital nerves. Typically, the

region of skin supplied by the dorsal branch

covers the medial half of the back of the hand,

and the skin on the dorsal aspect of the medial

two and a half fingers. Note that the

terminal parts of the dorsal aspect of the digits

are supplied by the mediem nerve as described

above.

12 The superficial terminal branch of the radial nerae

(C6-C8) arises in front of the lateral epicondyle

of the humerus. It descends through the upper

two-thirds of the forearm lateral to the radial

attery, and then passes posteriorly about 7 cm

above the wrist. While winding round the radius

it pierces the deep fascia and divides into four

or five small dorsal digital nerves. In all, the

superficial terminal branch supplies the skin of

the lateral half of the dorsum of the hand, and

the dorsal surfaces of the lateral two and a half

digits including the thumb, except for the

terminal portions supplied by the median nerve.

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